‘Narcos’ Recap: The Big Lie

“Yes. You would have done marvelous things. And that’s the saddest part.” — Diana Turbay

A wave of defeat washes over this eighth episode of Narcos, titled “La Gran Mentira” (or “The Big Lie”). Escobar continues his run from the Colombian government, who, despite agreeing to an open dialogue with the Medellin Cartel, are still adamant about catching the kingpin.

Growing increasingly paranoid, Escobar forces his hostage, Diana Turbay, to record another video for President Gaviria, this time pleading for the government to give into the cartel’s preposterous demands. Escobar’s criteria for peace is another aspect of Narcos’ plot that’s so outlandish and unbelievable, it requires confirmation from a quick Wikipedia search. Sure enough, the series remains true to form. Escobar will agree to turn himself in for the simple charge of drug trafficking — not mass murder of government officials and innocent Colombians — IF he’s allowed to build his own jail and hire his own guards to keep police at least two miles away at all times. The most unbelievable part, yet? Gaviria agrees.

We’re at the point in Colombian history where the government is so terrified of what the cartel will do next, that they’ll literally try anything to ensure peace. Colonel Carrillo, however, still has some fight left in him, and dammit if his Search Bloc is disbanded without one last raid. For the purposes of this recap, let’s analyze the three main events of the episode that had both immediate and long-term, detrimental effects.

Diana Turbay is accidentally shot

When storming the hostage house, Carrillo’s men open fire and accidentally shoot the woman they went in to rescue in the first place: Diana, daughter of former Colombian president Julio Cesar Turbay. This is the public’s last straw, and Gaviria, who has stood his ground thus far, is forced to give in to Escobar’s laughable demands: criteria that basically allows him to run a government protected drug operation from inside jail — scratch that — resort.

Escobar’s family is threatened

While meeting up with Pacho Herrera, Valeria Velez, who’s been dismissed by Escobar one time too many, accidentally (or maybe purposefully?) gives up Escobar’s family’s location when boasting about how it must be so boring being married to him and having to stay “locked up in the Monaco house all day long.” Pacho, who’s grieving from ten of his men being gunned down by Escobar’s henchmen, takes the opportunity to set off 800 pounds of dynamite outside the Monaco house, leaving the Escobars relatively unharmed, but, for the first time, completely vulnerable.

Gustavo chooses loyalty over life

Speaking of vulnerability: the Ochoas have also partnered with Pacho and Carrillo’s Search Bloc (in exchange for turning themselves in, as well) in using their sister as bait to lure in Gustavo to the authorities. Carrillo corners him at a motel and proceeds to have his men — whose families were victims of the cartel — beat him within an inch of his life unless he’s willing to cooperate and give up his cousin. Predictably, Gustavo chose Escobar over himself and his family and in Escobar’s eyes, died a martyr in the name of Medellín.